The MetroSpiritual: 10 ways to stay spiritually balanced in 2017

Trying to keep one’s balance when the world is on edge is hard. These timeless tips will get you through your most vulnerable moments. (Viorika/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A brand new year is here and with it comes a most welcome new start.

The year 2016 had more than its fair share of complications. It left many of us feeling strained and drained. The presidential election was filled with drama and divided many families and friends across the country.

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Fear of terror attacks and heartbreak over human rights violations have been engraved in our thoughts. Most of us were left bewildered, thinking, "What the French toast is going on around here?"

Spiritual people are often extra sensitive. You feel it deeper and it affects you more. It's good for awareness. But last year's waves of intense mood swings and stressed-out currents made feeling under the weather the norm. The leftover negative debris is still scattered about and mini-storms are starting to pop up already.

So how can we avoid getting sucked into all the icky-sticky stuff this year? Trying to keep one's balance when the entire world is on edge feels like a bad joke. On a positive note, all jokes have humor and laughter is good for the soul. So let's get hysterical and make some resolutions that create smiles on our faces. We'll want them!

If your New Year's resolutions are similar to mine — to increase spiritual enlightenment; to always stay positive; to be more physically, mentally and emotionally healthy; to accomplish something amazing; to feel financially secure and to find love (for us single MetroSpirituals) — then we will need some good, old-fashioned lady luck on our side.

We will also need some timeless mind trinkets that we won't forget about anytime soon, most especially during those crucial moments when we are the most vulnerable.

Here are some phenomenal reminders you should give yourself as often as you can in 2017.

— Every time you look in the mirror always say: "Hello, beautiful," or "Hello, handsome." A little self-love goes a long way baby-doll!

If you think you look like hell because you're tired or have a temporary blemish or something, don't focus on it. If you start badgering yourself…stop! Say, "Hello, my love," and walk away from the mirror.

Cut yourself off from all mirror access until you're feeling all warm and cozy with self-love again. Remember that no one is going to love you properly if you don't love yourself.

— It's okay to walk away! If someone is an energy vampire and you feel drained whenever they are around, it's okay to stay away. Relationships that you don't have to be in that drain you will only take up energy that you could be using to improve yourself. Remember that your first obligation is to yourself.

— Pay attention to your thoughts. It's crazy how often we actually have negative thoughts without even recognizing it. When you find yourself saying or thinking anything negative, stop yourself, back up and say something positive — even if it's, "Hey, at least I learned," or "Hey, at least I was just aware of this negativity."

Remember that everything that ever was, that is now and will ever be…is a thought first. Start out positive.

— Stop worrying about what other people are doing. If you are so busy telling others what to do, or making judgments, or pushing personal opinions or agendas, then you are ignoring your own imperfections. Plus, you are probably annoying the heck out of all involved. Remember that we all have our own individual, perfectly imperfect path to follow.

— Don't try to change anyone and don't let anyone try to change you. We do what we want to do when we want to do it. We only change when we want to, and it's always personal and inward. People don't change because you want them to, nor should they. Remember, what you see is what you get. Period.

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— Start off the year by de-cluttering your place. If you haven't worn it or used it in years, give it away. Too many possessions trap all sorts of funky energy. You're not a squirrel; no need for such a large stash. Remember, the less disorder, the less confusion.

— Don't let anyone else's actions or words affect you. If someone is "downing" you or treating you wrong, it is something within them that they need to deal with.

But the real question is why are you allowing it? Helpful criticism or loving suggestions are one thing, but being made to feel less than is another. Don't stand for it! Once you address it you can move on from it.

— Start forgiving anyone and everyone who has ever hurt you. It does not matter if they are horrible and you were wronged. You forgive for you, not for them, so it doesn't eat away at you and so you can no longer be affected by it. Remember to always forgive — but never forget.

— Don't be so hard on yourself when you mess up. We all set out with the best of intentions, but we are all human. We mess up — a lot! It's not an excuse for you to go and get yourself all wrapped up in sad or mad negative thoughts and actions.

Don't let yourself spiral so far out from your original intent that you lose your way. Recognize the issue, be a big girl or boy, and do better next time. Remember that we are here to grow and evolve. We learn from our mistakes.

— Shadows on rainbows are only temporary. The dark and negative will always be there to distract you and tempt you. Remember that at the end of the day you are a beautiful and perfect ray of light.

— Trust your intuition. In the deepest core of who you are and what you are, lies the only true place there is to seek out personal truths. The universal part of you never lies, only people do. Remember to believe in yourself.

Staying positive is not easy, but with practice it becomes more and more routine. Anything negative distracts us and the grand prize is always hurt and pain. Yuck! Let's avoid it like the plague.

No matter what your New Year's resolutions might be, remembering to keep positive thoughts in your head will make tomorrow easier to achieve.

It's easy to start out positive; keeping it in check is the real trick. Always remember that there is no one else like you in the entire universe, which makes you priceless. Smile and then pass it on.

Journey Well and Happy New Year!

Maija Polsley began having otherworldly experiences at a young age and began attending metaphysics classes with her mother at age 12. She has since been dedicated to finding the truth and has not stopped exploring. Co-producer of the ghost investigation web series "Paranormal Pursuit" and founder of TheMetroSpiritual.com Maija is a natural-born, city-dwelling, soul-seeking, independent former teen mom and single woman who is also a dimensionally educated, spiritually empathic writer, actor, poet, standup comic, tarot card reader, earth lover and quintessential metrospiritual.